Former President Donald Trump has claimed that he could secure the release of imprisoned Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich from Russia if re-elected, citing his supposed close relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin. However, the Kremlin has denied any contact between Putin and Trump, casting doubt on Trump's assertions.
Trump's history of making grandiose claims about resolving complex foreign issues, such as the war in Ukraine, has raised skepticism about his ability to deliver on such promises. Robert O'Brien, Trump's former national security advisor, highlighted the delicate nature of hostage negotiations and the need for nuanced approaches.
O'Brien emphasized that the U.S. possesses various tools to secure the release of wrongfully detained individuals, including imposing sanctions on Russia and leveraging diplomatic pressure. He criticized the Biden administration for not utilizing these tools effectively in the case of Gershkovich.
During a recent trip to Israel, O'Brien discussed the challenges faced by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in securing the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. O'Brien stressed the importance of applying military pressure on Hamas to compel them to negotiate for the hostages' release.
Regarding Trump's claim that certain events, like the attack on Israel by Iran-backed Hamas, would not have occurred under his presidency, O'Brien echoed the sentiment, attributing it to Trump's approach of 'peace through strength.' He argued that Trump's strong stance deterred hostile actions by Iran and other adversaries.
While O'Brien acknowledged policy disagreements with the Biden administration, he underscored the significance of maintaining a close bond between the U.S. and Israel, regardless of the sitting president. He cautioned against allowing differences in policy to weaken the longstanding relationship between the two nations.
